West Compound Demolition and Replacement at New Jersey State Prison

planned

The West Compound at New Jersey State Prison, nearly 200 years old, has been repeatedly condemned as archaic and unsuitable for inmates and officers. Multiple reports over the last century have recommended its demolition and replacement with a modern facility that meets current standards of penology. Despite these recommendations, the compound remains operational, housing over 600 inmates in small, outdated cells with poor living conditions. The New Jersey Department of Corrections is maintaining the facility while pursuing long-term modernization and replacement plans.